Etihad to adopt a mangrove tree for every Economy Space booking
Etihad Airways, which launched its ‘Etihad Forest’ initiative in February 2022 contributing to biodiversity, wildlife and environmental protection through a network of mangrove and other forests being established in Abu Dhabi and around the world, has committed to adopt a mangrove tree on behalf of every guest who books an Economy Space seat. This aims to ensure each of the carrier’s Economy Space seats sold is eventually carbon neutral.
Etihad’s Economy Space offers generous legroom and more space to relax and is available only on Etihad-operated flights. Etihad Guest Platinum members can book an Economy Space seat for free or save 50% as an Etihad Guest Gold member.
The initiative aims to plant 182,000 mangroves trees by the first quarter of 2023 in Abu Dhabi. Following this, the programme aims to plant new forests in international destinations. Etihad says mangroves remove up to four times more carbon dioxide from the air than other tropical forests, helping to fight the effects of climate change such as coral bleaching and coastline degradation, as well as support biodiversity and wildlife as an important habitat for fish, birds and other wildlife.
According to Etihad, each mangrove it plants will absorb up to 250kg of CO2 in its lifetime – the same amount that is produced by an eight-hour flight.
Mariam Al Qubaisi, Head of Sustainability, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “In addition to our own sustainability ambitions, we made a commitment to helping our guests and partners to travel more sustainably and empower them to make conscious choices. With the latest evolution of our sustainability programme to plant a mangrove on behalf of every guest who books an Economy Space seat, we’re simplifying the process so anyone can travel sustainably.”
“The Etihad Mangrove Forest is a key initiative in our sustainability journey to ensure our responsibility to remove carbon from the atmosphere is progressing. The intent is to create forests on all continents we fly to, and to provide our guests with an engaging opportunity to take part in the solution.”
Every guest who books an Economy Space Seat will receive a confirmation of their gifted mangrove in the Etihad Forest within 10 days of flying and can track, virtually visit and see details of their tree. Passengers also have the option to register their claimed tree so they can easily revisit it at a later day. Through the platform’s app, Etihad guests can “chat” with their chatbot-enabled tree, while also being able to track every tree with satellite maps and access data, including CO2 consumption metrics.
Guests in other cabins can also take part in the Etihad Forest initiative using Etihad Guest Miles in the Reward Shop.